Southern California -- this just in

Detectives seek leads in slaying of Norwalk sheriff's Explorer

August 29, 2011 | 10:50
pm

Homicide detectives Monday night were looking for the attackers who fatally shot an Explorer with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department's Norwalk station and another person in a drive-by attack in unincorporated Whittier.

Cesar Rogriguez, 19, was gunned down in front of a home early Sunday in the 11800 block of Painter Avenue as he was leaving a party, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

Larry Villegas, 24, was also killed in the hail of bullets outside the party, authorities said.

Rodriguez was a respected member of the station's Explorer Post and had been a member of the unit's honor guard, the station's captain said.

"It was Cesar's lifelong dream to become a deputy sheriff," said Capt. Patrick Maxwell, commander of the Norwalk station.

Four attackers in a gray Scion fled northbound on Painter after the driver fired multiple rounds from a handgun, authorities said.

Since January 2007, at least eight homicides have been reported within two miles of the area where Rodriguez was slain, according to a Times Homicide Report database.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at (323) 890-5516.